Tenaska chooses cooling method that requires lower amount of water

Backers of a proposed coal-fired energy plant between Sweetwater and Abilene have ruled out the possibility of using a cooling process that would require up to 10 million gallons of treated wastewater each day.

Representatives of the Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center announced today they have chosen a dry-cooling process that would require up to 2 million gallons each day — instead of a wet-cooling process that company officials said would be more economical but would potentially use five times more water.

Tenaska's decision comes nearly two months after Taylor County Judge George Newman publicly urged company officials — if they wanted to garner much-needed public support for the $3.5 billion plant — to eliminate that higher water requirement.

Some have expressed concern about the amount of water the company wants to use, especially in a region that occasionally goes through droughts and where consumers often face water restrictions.

According to company officials, the selected dry-cooling equipment uses air — instead of evaporating water — to cool water and steam. The now-ruled out wet-cooling process is the method currently used by more power plants.

Rather than consuming 10 million gallons each day, Trailblazer anticipates using an average of 1 million gallons daily and a maximum of 2 million gallons a day "even during periods of great demand for electricity, such as extremely hot or cold days," the company said in a news release.

"In dry cooling, also known as air cooling, fans draw cool air across heat exchangers to cool low pressure steam," according to the release. "Although more expensive to build, such a design substantially reduces loss of water due to evaporation."

"After extensive review of the potential water sources in the region, we decided to use the most water-efficient cooling method," Tenaska Business Development Manager Helen Manroe said in the release. "We are moving forward with design and engineering work based on dry cooling."

Tenaska officials say the Trailblazer Energy Center, if the plant becomes operational, will become the first coal-fired power plant in Texas to "use the dry-cooling method on a large scale."

"Tenaska understands how valuable water is in West Texas, which is why we are proposing to buy treated municipal wastewater for use at Trailblazer," Manroe said. "Municipal wastewater serves the company's long-term needs and maintains the area's quality of life and capacity to grow."

Tenaska officials have asked the city of Abilene to be the primary water source for the plant, urging the City Council to provide up to 2 million gallons of treated wastewater each day.

The West Central Texas Municipal Water District has also been asked to become a backup source of water if the city of Abilene decides to provide the proposed Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center near Trent with the water it needs to operate.

Although city staff and consultants have agreed enough wastewater exists to meet Tenaska's 2 million gallon-a-day request, the Abilene City Council hasn't made a decision yet.

Two politicians whose districts include Tenaska — state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, and state Rep. Susan King, R-Abilene — were quoted in the company's news release.

"As one who has been deeply involved in water policy issues for many years, I am aware of the requirement to balance water conservation with our equal need for energy to support economic growth," Duncan said. "Tenaska is to be commended for recognizing the importance we place on preserving our water resources and, accordingly, seeking the latest technologies designed to minimize water use at its Trailblazer plant."

King said, "Tenaska's decision to design the plant to use as little water as possible is good for West Texas. We realize that dry cooling poses an additional expense and believe it speaks to Tenaska's efforts to listen to the public concerns. The decision shows their willingness to go that extra mile to help preserve our area's water resources."

According to company officials, construction of the plant will begin in late 2011, if necessary permits are obtained and "the evaluation of any federal action promoting projects that capture and store C02."

The Trailblazer Energy Center would be built 30 miles west of Abilene. The center is a coal-fired energy plant that would capture 85 to 90 percent of carbon dioxide and distribute the gas to the Permian Basin oil fields for enhanced oil recovery.

If all goes well, company officials have said financing could be finalized in 2011, and the plant could become operational in 2016.